Ancient Platypus Modern Platypus Large-billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Pusillus)
The Large-billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Pusillus) evolved from the now extinct platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The two platypuses are fairly similar but the major differences are the size of the body and bill, but similarities include the spur at the ankle. Some households keep platypuses as pets along with magpies, but the platypuses are fairly hard to capture so only a small amount of families currently keep them.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Monotremata
Family
Ornithorhynchidae
Genus
Ornithorhynchus
Species
O. Pusillus
The swimming Platypus (Edited by Tiffany Tsoi)
Nests baby platypuses stay in until they leave to theier own section of the burrow. Source: http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/media?irn=64414&image=yes&size=med
Differences between Platypus burrows. (edited by Tiffany Tsoi) Source:http://rainforest-australia.com/Platypus_Burrow.gif
Habitat:
The Large-billed Platypus is mostly found in Victoria but are also found all over eastern Australia. The Large-billed Platypus lives in rivers and streams but are also can survive a short time on land. Large-billed Platypus prefers large bodies of water but are sometimes found in small pool and lakes. They usually choose places with plenty of aquatic vegetation but can eat small creatures such as frogs.
Large-billed Platypus also makes 2 types of burrows just like their ancestors did but now the burrows are dug deeper and usually have a small pool of water near the entrance for precautionary purposes. Platypuses are no longer shy and solitary as they live in groups of about 5– 7.
The Dire-foxes have been seen hunting the Large-billed platypus. The Dire-foxes were thought to be brought in by travellers during the great invasion when many of the North Americans rushed into Australia to escape the war.
Structural Adaptation 1
The Large-billed Platypus's bill is about 5cm longer and 6cm wider than their ansestors
Larger Bill
The Large-billed Platypus has a larger bill than its ancestors. They use this bill to find their way around as they still do not use their eyes or ears under water. This bill is also used to scoop more food into the mouth as the platypuses have to eat up to 20% of their body weight to survive. The Large-billed Platypus has adopted both their ancestors’ ways of hunting as they not only hunt at the bottom of the body of water but also the sides (walls) and water’s surface. The do not often eat small animals (earthworms, frogs, tadpoles etc.) but only eat those animals when they are running out of food are have to temporary relocate. This adaption is most likely influenced by how much the platypus need to consume to survive and for the convenience as they are often seen carrying small objects in their mouths.
Structural Adaptation 2
Edited by Tiffany Tsoi
Smaller Body
A smaller body lightens the platypus allowing it to travel faster on land and under water. The Large-billed Platypus has 4 layers of fur and a very lining of blubber which keep the platypus warm keeping its vital organs intact. The smaller body aids the platypus in escaping from its predators. Also because of the smaller bodies the Large-billed Platypus does not have to dig burrows as big as they would have needed to if they were the same size as their ancestors. This adaption is likely to have stemmed from self-preservation.
Behavioral Adaptation 1
Live in groups
Platypuses no long live by themselves or in very small groups. Large-billed Platypus usually lives in groups of 5 – 7. These groups/families are commonly referred to as a barrit (named after Carl Lorr Barrit who found that platypuses live in groups). They share burrows and if they ever find the need to eat small animals, they are usually brought to the barrit and shared among the members. The “chores” such as incubation of eggs, guarding the burrows, hunting for food and expansion of burrows are given out to be done in shifts. The males and females tend to stick to their own genders – for example, the males all work on expanding the burrows and the females hunt for food. The need to protect and survive has led to Large-billed Platypuses moving into groups and watching each other’s backs.
Behavioral Adaptation
Death in the Barrit
The Large-billed Platypuses like all other living animals have to face death at one point in their life and death is taken seriously in barrits. The death of a fellow means about a week of mourning where barks and grunts can be heard frequently from the Large-billed Platypuses. Usually when one member dies a part of the burrow is closed with the deceased buried within. If the platypus is found dead on land they are usually covered in leaves and twigs as the Large-billed Platypuses carry each stick and leaf one by one to cover a member of their barrit. This change in lifestyle for the Large-billed Platypus has been influenced by how they now live in barrits.
Physiological Adaptation
Digestion
The Large-billed Platypus’s diet has changed over time, so its body and adapted to allow the platypus to digest and receive the nutrients from both plants and other animals. Its stomach can expand to allow more room if necessary. The platypus now needs to consume 25% of its body weight a day now because of the changes in the environment. This change has most likely happened to help the platypus survive in its environment and be able to have a larger variety of food.
Modern Platypus
Large-billed Platypus
(Ornithorhynchus Pusillus)
The Large-billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Pusillus) evolved from the now extinct platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The two platypuses are fairly similar but the major differences are the size of the body and bill, but similarities include the spur at the ankle. Some households keep platypuses as pets along with magpies, but the platypuses are fairly hard to capture so only a small amount of families currently keep them.
Scientific Classification
Habitat:
The Large-billed Platypus is mostly found in Victoria but are also found all over eastern Australia. The Large-billed Platypus lives in rivers and streams but are also can survive a short time on land. Large-billed Platypus prefers large bodies of water but are sometimes found in small pool and lakes. They usually choose places with plenty of aquatic vegetation but can eat small creatures such as frogs.
Large-billed Platypus also makes 2 types of burrows just like their ancestors did but now the burrows are dug deeper and usually have a small pool of water near the entrance for precautionary purposes. Platypuses are no longer shy and solitary as they live in groups of about 5– 7.
The Dire-foxes have been seen hunting the Large-billed platypus. The Dire-foxes were thought to be brought in by travellers during the great invasion when many of the North Americans rushed into Australia to escape the war.
Structural Adaptation 1
Larger Bill
The Large-billed Platypus has a larger bill than its ancestors. They use this bill to find their way around as they still do not use their eyes or ears under water. This bill is also used to scoop more food into the mouth as the platypuses have to eat up to 20% of their body weight to survive. The Large-billed Platypus has adopted both their ancestors’ ways of hunting as they not only hunt at the bottom of the body of water but also the sides (walls) and water’s surface. The do not often eat small animals (earthworms, frogs, tadpoles etc.) but only eat those animals when they are running out of food are have to temporary relocate. This adaption is most likely influenced by how much the platypus need to consume to survive and for the convenience as they are often seen carrying small objects in their mouths.
Structural Adaptation 2
Smaller Body
A smaller body lightens the platypus allowing it to travel faster on land and under water. The Large-billed Platypus has 4 layers of fur and a very lining of blubber which keep the platypus warm keeping its vital organs intact. The smaller body aids the platypus in escaping from its predators. Also because of the smaller bodies the Large-billed Platypus does not have to dig burrows as big as they would have needed to if they were the same size as their ancestors. This adaption is likely to have stemmed from self-preservation.
Behavioral Adaptation 1
Live in groups
Platypuses no long live by themselves or in very small groups. Large-billed Platypus usually lives in groups of 5 – 7. These groups/families are commonly referred to as a barrit (named after Carl Lorr Barrit who found that platypuses live in groups). They share burrows and if they ever find the need to eat small animals, they are usually brought to the barrit and shared among the members. The “chores” such as incubation of eggs, guarding the burrows, hunting for food and expansion of burrows are given out to be done in shifts. The males and females tend to stick to their own genders – for example, the males all work on expanding the burrows and the females hunt for food. The need to protect and survive has led to Large-billed Platypuses moving into groups and watching each other’s backs.
Behavioral Adaptation
Death in the Barrit
The Large-billed Platypuses like all other living animals have to face death at one point in their life and death is taken seriously in barrits. The death of a fellow means about a week of mourning where barks and grunts can be heard frequently from the Large-billed Platypuses. Usually when one member dies a part of the burrow is closed with the deceased buried within. If the platypus is found dead on land they are usually covered in leaves and twigs as the Large-billed Platypuses carry each stick and leaf one by one to cover a member of their barrit. This change in lifestyle for the Large-billed Platypus has been influenced by how they now live in barrits.
Physiological Adaptation
Digestion
The Large-billed Platypus’s diet has changed over time, so its body and adapted to allow the platypus to digest and receive the nutrients from both plants and other animals. Its stomach can expand to allow more room if necessary. The platypus now needs to consume 25% of its body weight a day now because of the changes in the environment. This change has most likely happened to help the platypus survive in its environment and be able to have a larger variety of food.
Bibliography